Trang Province

Trang (Thai: ตรัง, Thai pronunciation: [trāŋ]), also called Mueang Thap Thiang, is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, on the west side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Strait of Malacca. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, and Satun.

Trang

ตรัง
Province
Ko Lao Liang Phi in Mu Ko Phetra National Park (upper), Kantang railway station, the last stop of southern railway line (section Andaman line) (lower)
Flag
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Trang Province
CountryThailand
CapitalTrang
Government
 • GovernorLuechai Charoensap (since October 2018)
Area
 • Total4,918 km2 (1,899 sq mi)
Area rankRanked 43rd
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total643,116
 • RankRanked 41st
 • Density131/km2 (340/sq mi)
 • Density rankRanked 34th
Human Achievement Index
 • HAI (2017)0.5530 "low"
Ranked 63rd
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code
92xxx
Calling code075
ISO 3166 codeTH-92
Websitewww.trang.go.th

Trang was formerly a port involved in foreign trade. It was the first place where rubber was planted in Thailand. Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi brought rubber saplings from Malaya and planted them here in 1899, and rubber is now an important export of the country. The Trang River flows through the province from its origin in the Khao Luang mountain range, and the Palian River flows from the Banthat mountains. The province of Trang has an area of approximately 5,000 square km and 199 km of Strait of Malacca shoreline.[4]

Geography

The province is on the coast of the Strait of Malacca, and contains 46 islands together with the mainland area. There are only few plains, and most of the area is hills. The Khao Luang and the Banthat mountain range are the sources of the two main rivers of the province, the Trang River and the Palian River.

The southern coast of the province is protected in the Mu Ko Phetra National Park. The estuary of the Trang River together with the Hat Chao Mai Marine National Park[5] and Ko Libong Non-hunting Area are also registered Ramsar wetlands.

History

Trang was an important seaport in southern Thailand. Legend says that ships always arrived in the morning, which led to the town's name. "Trang" derives from the Malay word for light or dawn (terang). But in another explanation it says that it comes from Sanskrit (tarangque) which means wave or gallop. In addition, the landscape of Trang is characterized by mounds interspersed with plains that look like waves. Thus, the provincial seal features sea waves and a lighthouse bridge.[6]

The province was once a part of the Srivijaya empire, an ancient Hindu-Buddhist Melayu Kingdom and the Malay Sultanate of Kedah until 1810.

According to cultural records Trang was one of 12 satellite towns that existed about 900 years ago, but it was during the reign of King Rama II that the province got its first governor. The first Westerner to arrive in Trang was Captain James Low, who came in 1838 to negotiate commercial benefits.

The original town was in Khuanthani (now a tambon in district Kantang). In 1893, the governor, Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi, also known as Khaw Sim Bee na Ranong, decided to make Trang an important seaport and relocated the town to Kantang District on the Trang River delta. It was moved again to its present location 26 km inland in 1916 by King Rama VI because of repeated flooding.

Trang was the first area of Thailand where rubber trees were planted, brought there by governor Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi from British Malaya in 1899.

Symbols

The seal of the province shows a lighthouse bridge above a sea of waves. The lighthouse bridge refers to Trang as a seaport trading with foreign countries.[7]

The provincial symbolic flower and tree is the green ebony (Jacaranda filicifolia). The plant was imported from Australia by the same governor who imported the rubber tree, and it quickly got the name "si trang" by the citizens.

Lambchop rasbora (Trigonostigma espei) is a provincial fish.

The provincial slogan เมืองพระยารัษฏา ชาวประชาใจกว้าง ถิ่นกำเนิดยางพารา เด่นสง่าดอกศรีตรัง ปะการังใต้ทะเล เสน่ห์หาดทรายงาม น้ำตกสวยตระการตา translates as "Phraya Rasda's town, generous people, delicious roast pork, the first city where para rubber was planted, the Si Trang provincial flower, underwater coral reefs, scenic beaches and waterfalls."[7]

Administrative divisions
Map of ten districts

Provincial government

Trang is divided into 10 districts (amphoes). These are further divided into 87 subdistricts (tambons) and 697 villages (mubans).

  1. Mueang Trang (Malay : Terang)
  2. Kantang (Malay : Gantang)
  3. Yan Ta Khao (Malay : Janda Putih)
  4. Palian (Malay: Tanjong Setar)
  5. Sikao
  6. Huai Yot
  7. Wang Wiset
  8. Na Yong
  9. Ratsada
  10. Hat Samran

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are:[8] one Trang Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 22 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Trang has city (thesaban nakhon) status and Kantang has town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 20 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 77 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[2]

Transportation

Air: Trang Airport is 7 km from Trang town centre.[9] It is served by Thailand AirAsia and Nok Air, with flights to Bangkok.

Rail: Trang is one of the southern destinations offering trains to Bangkok railway station. Starting from Thung Song Junction railway station in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, this southwestern route has three stations: Huai Yot railway station at Huai Yot District, Trang railway station and ends at Kantang railway station at Kantang railway station.

Road: Major roads to and from Trang are:

  1. Highway 4 (Bangkok—Chumphon) via Highway 41 (Surat Thani—Thung Song—Huai Yot—Trang), a distance of 828 kilometres.
  2. Highway 4 (Bangkok—Chumphon) via Ranong—Phang Nga—Krabi—Trang, a distance of 1,020 kilometres.
  3. Highway 404-416 (Satun—Palian—Trang), 140 kilometres.
  4. Highway 4-407 (Hat Yai—Phatthalung—Trang), 148 kilometres.
  5. Highway 4-402 (Phuket—Phang Nga—Krabi—Trang), 312 kilometres.

Bus:There are buses to and from Trang to Bangkok and main provinces (Phuket, Hat Yai, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Satun).

Boats to islands: Trang has four piers for boats to the islands: Pak Meng Pier, Ban Chao Mai Pier, Klong Son Pier, and Kuan Thung Kuu Pier.

Education

Secondary schools:

  • Wichienmatu School วิเชียรมาตุ
  • Wichienmatu 2 School วิเชียรมาตุ 2
  • Wichienmatu 3 School วิเชียรมาตุ 3
  • Saparachinee School สภาราชินี
  • Saparachinee 2 School สภาราชินี 2
  • Princess Chulabhorn's College,Trang จุฬาภรณ์ราชวิทยาลัย
  • Sport School โรงเรียนกีฬาตรัง
  • Buranarumluk School บูรณะรำลึก
  • Panyawit School ปัญญาวิทย์
  • Darunothai School ดรุโณทัย
  • Trang vittaya School ตรังวิทยา
  • Trangchristiensuksa ตรังคริสเตียนศึกษา
  • Wat Kaphang Surin School โรงเรียนวัดกระพังสุรินทร์
  • Pornsirikul School พรศิริกุล
  • Matayomsuksa Watkuanwisetmulaniti School มัธยมศึกษาวัดควนวิเศษ มูลนิธิ
  • Kantangpittayakorn School กันตังพิทยากร
  • Kantangratsadasuksa School กันตังรัษฎาศึกษา
  • Yantakhao Ratchanupatham School ย่านตาขาวรัฐชนูปถัมภ์
  • Palean padungsit School ปะเหลียนผดุงศิษย์
  • Kantapittayakarn School คันธพิทยาคาร
  • Sikao prachapadungvit School สิเกาประชาผดุงวิทย์
  • Wangviset School วังวิเศษ
  • Huayyot School ห้วยยอด
  • Lampurareungvit School ลำภูราเรืองวิทย์
  • Nampud School น้ำผุด
  • Ratsada School รัษฎา
  • Huaynang ratsadornbamrung School ห้วยนางราษฎรบำรุง
  • Ratsadanupradit anusorn School รัษฎานุประดิษย์อนุสรณ์
  • Nayong vittayakom School นาโยงวิทยาคม
  • Sawatratanapimuk School สวัสดิ์รัตนาภิมุข
  • Thungnonghang prachason School ทุ่งหนองแห้งประชาสรรค์
  • Hatsumran vittayakom School หาดสำราญวิทยาคม
  • Trang polytechnic School ตรังโปลีเทคนิค

Higher education:

Healthcare
  • Trang Hospital (main hospital, public)
  • Watanapat Hospital (private)
  • Trang Ruampat Hospital (private)

Human achievement index 2017
Health Education Employment Income
57 36 62 59
Housing Family Transport Participation
63 56 13 54
Province Trang, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.5530 is "low", occupies place 63 in the ranking.

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[3]

RankClassification
  1 - 15"high"
16 - 30"somewhat high"
31 - 45"average"
45 - 60"somewhat low"
61 - 77"low"

Events and festivals
  • Trang Vegetarian Festival (เทศกาลกินเจ): since Trang has a large population of Thai-Chinese, therefore causing the Vegetarian Festival in October annually alike to Phuket. People become vegetarian and dress in white for nine days and nights. This should bring them good fortune. Trang is one of the provinces that hold this festival superbly.[10]
  • Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony (พิธีวิวาห์ใต้สมุทร): is a wedding ceremony under the sea of Trang. It was first held in early 1996, and ever since, it has been continuously held every year during the Valentine's Festival. This ceremony is promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).[11]
  • Marine Pulling Buddha Procession (ชักพระทางทะเล): or Chak Phra in Thai is a Buddhist festival that is generally performed in many provinces of the southern such as Surat Thani. Chakra Phra is to invite Buddha image into a boat and paddle to various places on the water for prosperity. But Trang is the only province that holds this festival by sea. Chak Phra is held annually after the end of Buddhist Lent (during October).[12]

Local food

Trang is another province rich with famous local food even receiving the nickname "The Land of Food" for example[13]

  • Mu yang (หมูย่าง), also known as Mu han (หมูหัน): a barbecue roasted piglet with crispy skin, regarded as a menu that has been influenced by Cantonese cuisine for over 100 years.[14]
  • Dim sum: Trang regarded as a province where has a unique breakfast cuisine found nowhere else in Thailand. There are many coffee shops in the form of Kopi tiam (traditional coffee shop) that served in a variety of menus such as Pathongko (Youtiao), Khanom jeeb (Shumai), Har gow (white shrimp dumpling), Salapao (Siopao), Popia thot (deep fried spring roll) include Mu yang.
  • Trang cake, also known as Kook Ming cake: a traditional cake that originated in Lamphu Ra, 14 km north of Mueang Trang. These cakes were cooked by an authentic process by baking in the charcoal oven and have no frosting with have several flavours like orange, coffee, pandan, three-flavoured etc.[13]
  • Hat Chao Mai National Park
  • Mu Ko Phetra National Park
  • Another corner of Mu Ko Phetra National Park
  • Inside the Emerald Cave
  • View of Mai Fat, the sub-district of Sikao
  • Silhouette of Pak Meng Beach, a part of Hat Chao Mai National Park and most renowned beach of the province
  • Clear water and long-tailed boat at Ko Kradan
  • Sundown at Ko Muk
  • Tuk-tuk hua kob (frog-headed auto rickshaw) unique vehicle of the province
  • Railway runs past Khlong Muan railway halt, north part of the province

Notes

Reports (data) from Thai government are "not copyrightable" (Public Domain), Copyright Act 2537 (1994), section 7.

References
  1. Advancing Human Development through the ASEAN Community, Thailand Human Development Report 2014, table 0:Basic Data (PDF) (Report). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Thailand. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-974-680-368-7. Retrieved 17 January 2016, Data has been supplied by Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, at Wayback Machine.
  2. "รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2561" [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2018]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior (in Thai). 31 December 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  3. Human achievement index 2017 by National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), pages 1-40, maps 1-9, retrieved 14 September 2019, ISBN 978-974-9769-33-1
  4. "Trang". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  5. "Hat Chao Mai National Park". Department of National Parks (DNP) Thailand. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  6. Jaisamut, Yuenyad (1996). ตรัง : เมืองท่าโบราณสองพันปี นายกรัฐมนตรีสองยุค [Trang: Two Thousand Years Ancient Seaport, Two Periods Prime Minister] (in Thai). Bangkok: Matichon. pp. 47–50. ISBN 9747115603.
  7. "Symbol of Trang". OSM Andamnan: The Office of Strategy Management for Southern Province Cluster. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  8. "Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019. 14 Trang: 1 PAO, 1 City mun., 1 Town mun., 20 Subdistrict mun., 77 SAO.
  9. "Trang Airport". Department of Civil Aviation (DCA): Trang. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  10. "Top 5 provinces to visit for vegetarian festival". Bangkok Post. 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  11. "Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony 2019". Thailand Festival.
  12. Channel 9 MCOT HD (2019-10-20). "ชักพระทางน้ำข้ามทะเลหลังออกพรรษา จ.ตรัง" [Pulling Buddha across the sea after Buddhist Lent, Trang Province]. youtube (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  13. Tamkarnwela (2015-08-24). "~ * ~ * ~ * Let's Enjoy Eating @Trang Province...The Land of Food Paradise & Deliciousness... of More than 40 Restaurants ~ * ~ * ~* ~". READE.ME. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  14. Mueangkaeo, Methee (2018-10-16). "'หมูย่างเมืองตรัง' อร่อยล้ำกว่า 100 ปี" ['Trang Roasted Pork' tasty over 100 years]. Posttoday (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-04-19.

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